On the distribution of the (un)bounded sum of random variables

We propose a general treatment of random variables aggregation accounting for the dependence among variables and bounded or unbounded support of their sum. The approach is based on the extension to the concept of convolution to dependent variables, involving copula functions. We show that some classes of copula functions (such as Marshall-Olkin and elliptical) cannot be used to represent the dependence structure of two variables whose sum is bounded, while Archimedean copulas can be applied only if the generator becomes linear beyond some point. As for the application, we study the problem of capital allocation between risks when the sum of losses is bounded.     

Fuzzy ontology representation using OWL 2

The need to deal with vague information in Semantic Web languages is rising in importance and, thus, calls for a standard way to represent such information. We may address this issue by either extending current Semantic Web languages to cope with vagueness, or by providing a procedure to represent such information within current standard languages and tools. In this work, we follow the latter approach, by identifying the syntactic differences that a fuzzy ontology language has to cope with, and by proposing a concrete methodology to represent fuzzy ontologies using OWL 2 annotation properties. We also report on some prototypical implementations: a plug-in to edit fuzzy ontologies using OWL 2 annotations and some parsers that translate fuzzy ontologies represented using our methodology into the languages supported by some reasoners.     

Some thoughts on electrospray ionization mechanisms

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mechanisms are highly complex, due to a series of physical and chemical phenomena taking place on a complex system, as a solution is. In fact, even if the solution of an analyte in a protic medium can be considered at first sight to be a two-component system, the presence of solvent dissociation equilibria and the possible interactions solvent-solvent dissociation products, solvent dissociation products-analyte make this system highly complex, also for the presence of possible ionic compounds (for example, Na(+), K(+)) which strongly affect the above equilibria. A high number of research articles have been published, mainly devoted to charged droplet production and to gas-phase ion generation. They all show the high complexity of the processes affecting electrospray measurements related to either the chemical equilibria present in the condensed phase and to electrolysis processes at the emitter tip or to the processes occurring in the sprayed droplets. As a result, the chemical composition inside the small droplets from which the analyte ions are generated can be significantly different from those in sprayed solution. In this review, after a short survey of the proposed ESI mechanisms, some experiments are described. They were performed to examine if ion mobility in solution, before the formation of the sprayed charged droplets, can affect the ESI results. The data, obtained by studying both inorganic and organic analytes, indicate that the ESI spectra are dependent on the analyte dimension and charge state which, as a consequence, affect their ion mobility in solution.     

Problema di Dirichlet per l’equazione delle superfici di curvatura media assegnata con dato infinito

Riassunto In questo lavoro si studia il problema di Dirichlet per l’equazione delle superfici di curvatura media assegnata con dato infinito. Si dimostra una condizione necessaria e sufficiente affinchè esista una soluzione. Si dimostra pure un teorema di unicità.

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Summary In this paper we consider the Dirichlet’s problem for surfaces of prescribed mean curvature with infinite data. We prove a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of the solution. Finally we prove an uniqueness theorem.

     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of some unsubstituted and chlorine-substituted bisnaphthalimides and related synthons

The electron impact induced fragmentations of some unsubstituted and chlorine-substituted naphthalimides and bisnaphthalimides are discussed in detail with the aid of B/E and B²/E linked-scans for metastable ion analysis and collisional activation experiments. In the case of bisnaphthalimides the more important primary decomposition routes are related to cleavages of the alkyl chain.     

Sulphonylium ions in the gas phase

Electron impact mass spectrometry was used to investigate the fragmentation of a series of arenesulphonyl chlorides. Sequential losses of a chlorine atom and sulphur dioxide from the molecular ions occurred and the reverse of these reactions had small critical energies that were generally unaffected by the ring substituent. However, an interesting intramolecular cyclization reaction occurring on the ortho-nitro derivative is discussed with the aid of kinetic energy release measurements on this derivative and on a model compound. Appearance energy measure ments combined with multiple scattering Xα calculations led to an estimate of the sulphur-chlorine bond strength in benzenesulphonyl chloride.